CHAPTER VIII. 



THE EXHIBITIONS OF THE SOCIETY, 1845-1864. 



As in the preceding chapter we must, before taking 

 up the subject of the exhibitions, mention a movement, 

 which, though not immediately connected with the 

 shows of fruits and flowers, was yet of great importance 

 to the progress of horticulture. At the first meeting of 

 the Society in 1845, the great advantage of transmitting 

 seeds, cuttings, etc., by mail, at a low rate of postage, 

 was stated ; and a committee was appointed to draw up 

 a petition to Congress, praying that a clause providing 

 for so transmitting such articles should bo introduced 

 into the postal laws then under consideration. This 

 petition was sent to Hon. Robert C. Winthrop to be 

 presented to Congress, and was accompanied by a letter 

 from the president of the Society, setting forth the bene- 

 fits gained from the facilities offered in England for 

 the transmission by mail of small parcels of merchandise 

 at low rates, and the advantages which might be antici- 

 pated to the agriculture and horticulture of the country 

 from such a means of distributing seeds, cuttings, etc., 

 of new fruits, flowers, or vegetables. Although this 

 petition produced no immediate result, it is much to the 

 credit of the Society that it so early engaged in a move- 

 ment which has since enabled horticulturists through- 

 out the country to avail themselves of every improve 

 ment in varieties more cheaply than could be done in 



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